Beginner’s Starting Guide – Windows

This page is here to list step by step how to use theese maps if you have not used any Garmin products previously (section A and B). and if you're new to the openmtbmap (C: and D:). Note, you don't need a Garmin GPS to use these maps. If you have no Garmin GPS A: and D: will still apply / be usable.

Note for general orientation on openmtbmap.org. The about section covers topics, specific to the openmtbmap (or limitations based on mkgmap - the opensource map compiler for OSM data). The tuturials section is about general topics related to Garmin GPS or Openstreetmap.

A: Installing Maps to Computer

- If you want to use the maps with Qlandkarte GT or on *nixthen Unzip the maps with 7-zip (lzma compression) Note that unzippers included in Windows/Mac/Linux probabely can't unzip the .exe files. Windows users simply follow through the .exe installation. If the download consists of several parts - just extract all of them into the same folder (not subfolders!).

note - some maps consist of several downloads (Asia/Europe continent map) and a few maps have the contourlines as separate download. In those cases just download all parts into the same folder - and provide them when the installer asks for them.

Linux users, you can install Mapsource following the same procedure in Wine - I'm not sure about Garmin Basecamp.

Note, DO first install at least one (better two) Openmtbmaps of your choice, before installing Basecamp (or outdated Mapsource).

B: Sending Maps to GPS:

- https://openmtbmap.org/tutorials/send_maps/ if you followed the above steps and installed Mapsource or Basecamp (via MapInstall). Sending maps via Mapsource, Basecamp (Mapinstall) or via "create_gmapsupp.img_with_mkgmap.bat" is the only way to get address search on your GPS.

- or (advanced users only) create the gmapsupp.img with mkgmap following the tutuorial offered here (any OS that supports Java): /tutorials/send-maps-to-your-gps/mkgmap/ and put the created gmapsupp.img in the /garmin folder of your GPS. You could also use mapsettoolkit or gmaptool to achieve this.

Advanced users can also click on "create gmapsupp.img.bat" or "create_gmapsupp.img_with_mkgmap.bat" which will work only for windows users. Then put the resulting gmapsupp.img file onto the /garmin folder on your GPS device (note newer Garmin GPS allow you to rename the gmapsupp.img to e.g. mtbde.img (stick to short names).

or follow one of the following tutorials:

NOTE: on Old GPS all maps have to be sent at once. And can then be activated/deactivated via Menu on your GPS.

On newer devices however best send all maps separately and rename the gmapsupp.img, as you cannot deactivate maps that are sent at the same time with Mapsource/Basecmap.

ATTENTION - Basecamp 4.7.0 (or better MapInstall 4.2.0) is partly broken. Best downgrade (or even better never upgrade to 4.7.0) to Basecamp 4.6.2 - see also here:Do Not Update to Basecamp v4.7.0

create a gmapsupp.img (send with Basecamp MapInstall to an external disc, SD card…) – then feed oruxmaps the gmapsupp.img – however only map display without name labels and search functions works well. Labels clutter – and search/routing is not available with garmin format maps in Oruxmaps/Locus